Apparatus for treating fabrics.



No. 761,107 Q PATBNTED MAY 31, 1904. M. MUNTADAS Y ROVIRA. APPARATUS FOR TREATING FABRICS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 11, 1903.

H0 MODEL.

Q vitneoaeo 7 THE ndnms vnzns co, PnmoLmm" WASNKNGTON, n. c.

UNITED STATES Patented May 34, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING FABRICS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 761,107, dated May 31, 1904.

Application filed August 11, 1903.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MANUEL MUNTADAS Y RovIRA, asubject of the King of Spain, residing at Barcelona, in the province of Barcelona and Kingdom of Spain, have invented certain new and useful Apparatus for Treating Fabrics; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in ap-' paratus for continuously bleaching, steaming, and washing fabrics and yarns; and the object of my invention is to provide an apparatus whereby theabove operations are carried on in a methodical and systematic order, which results in the saving of space, time, and labor and greatly increases the efficiency of the work. \Vith this object in view it may be understood that, first, a methodical washing is that in which the water circulates in a reverse direction to that of the fabric to be washed, so that the cleanest one is in contact with the cleanest water and the most soiled fabric is in contact with the impurest water; second, a methodical lixiviation is that in which thelye circulates in a reverse direction to that of the fabric to be lixiviated, so that the fabric not yet lixiviated enters the.less pure or less alkaline lye and issues from the most alkaline and purest one; third, a me thodical steaming is that in which the cleanest fabric is in contact with the steam of highest pressure and the most soiled fabric is in contact with the steam of lowest pressure.

The objects of my improved apparatus are:

First. To subject the fabrics or yarns forming a chain to the action of steam and lye in such a manner that when moving forward they come in contact with portions of successivelypurer lye and with steam of successivelyhigher pressure. This result is obtained by. means of chambers having inner walls or partitions between which liquid joints or seals are formed by the same lye which flows from one chamber to the other. The lye permits the fabric to pass free; but it does not permit the escape of the steam contained in said chambers. Several chambers may be arranged for Serial No. 169,140. (No model.)

the action of the steam alone after liXiviation,

this being obtained by forcing the fabric to pass through a chamber containing steam at an equal or higher pressure than that ofv the last lixiviation-chamber.

, Third. To subject the fabrics or yarns to the alternative action of the water and steam by forcing them to pass through several chambers separated from each other by inner walls or partitions, forming waterjoint between them by means of the same washing-water. The fabric enters the water by the most soiled portion thereof and emerges from the same by the purest portion of it. The former chamber contains the steam at the highest pressure and the final one'contains it at the lowest pressure. The lye is conveyed by a pipe from one chamber to the other, and the water passes from one chamber to the other by means of any preferable device or appatus. The difference between the steam pressure in the several chambers is regulated by the height of the inner walls or partitions forming the water joints'or seals, so. that each liquid column is sufficient to balance the pressure in the next chamber.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross-section thereof, and Fig. 3 is a cross-section showing the means for supplying the washing liquid from one chamber to another.

Referring to the drawings, my improved apparatus consists of a large casing open at the top, having end walls a and a bottom 5 secured thereto. In the interior of this chamber rise from the bottom thereof partitions 0, cl, e, f, g, h, and z' of the same height as the end walls a. Similar partitions j, is, Z, m, a, 0, p, and q are also provided. These partitions are arranged alternately in respect to the partitions before mentioned and are of less height than said firstnamed partitions. Into this casing projects downwardly a second casing slightly smaller than the first, which is provided with a closed top w and end walls 8. This second casing is open at the bottom, and from the top of said casing depend vertical partitions t, u, o, 'w, m, and y, which are arranged close to the partitions 0, cl, 6, f, g, and it, but without touching them. These partitions do not reach down into the bottom of the main casing, but are separated from it by a considerable space, and the casings are secured in their proper relative positions with relation to each other by any desired means. The interior of the smaller casing is thus divided into a number of chambers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, each of which has an opening near the bottom and the central one of which, 4:, is considerably larger than the others. The chambers 1, 2, and 3 are also considerably larger than the chambers 5, 6, and 7 in order to afford space for the looping devices 8, which are of the ordinary type. The chambers 1, 2, and 3 are designed for the reception of a bleaching agent, and the chambers 5, 6, and 7 are designed for the reception of a washing agent, and steam under pressure is admitted into each one of these chambers, but at a different pressure, the pressure in the chamber 2 being greater than that in the chamber 1, and so on, increasing until the chamber 4 is reached, in which the maximum pressure of steam is maintained, and then decreasing by successive gradations in the chambers 5, 6, and 7. 9 represents a fabric passing through the several chambers successively, through the bleaching agent, and through the washing agent, being subjected to steam-pressure at times. In case it is desired to treat yarns they are put on cross-bars arranged on an end less chain and conveyed through the apparatus in the'same way as the fabric 9. The'fabric or yarns pass over rollers 10, arranged near the top and bottom of the apparatus. By means of the folders 8 the fabric is folded into the space between the partitions 11 in the usual manner. r

12 represents a steam-pipe running froma suitable source of supply and having a branch pipe connected with the several chambers. On each branch pipe is a pressure-regulator 13 and'a gage 14, so that the pressure in each chamber may be regulated and observed.

The lye or other bleaching agent is driven by a pump 16 through a pipe 15, which enters the chambert at the point 16 in the lower part thereof." The pressure of steam in the chamber 4 causes a liquid'seal to be made around the bottom of the partition 1; and forces the liquid to' the top 'of the partition 6, from whence it is delivered by a gravity through the pipe 17 into the chamber 3 near the bottom of the partition it, where another liquid seal has formed, the liquid rising between the partitions 'dand'u, but not to the top of the partition (Z, inasmuch as the pressure of steam in the chamber 3 is less than that in the chamber 4, usually by about half an atmosphere. By similar means liquid seals are :formed underneath'the partitions s and t, the impurelye passing out through the opening 18, to which a waste-pipe is preferably attached. By this arrangement it will be seen that the fabric or yarns under treatment first pass through the bleaching agent in its foulest condition, then into a chamber under steam-pressure, then into purer liquid, and so on until the material treated passes into the pure bleaching agent,

I and then into the chamber containing the highest pressure of steam, in which chamber, owing to its size and to the two loopers, the fabric remains longer than in any other of the chambers. The liquid washing agent is delivered into the chamber 19, formed by the partition'and end wall a. From thence it is pumped by a pipe 20 (see Fig. 3) into the opening 21, from whence it falls down and makes a water seal around thepartit'ion s. From thence it is pumped through a pipe 22 to a point near the partition it into the chamber 7 and as it is delivered from the pipe 22 it forms a water seal around the lower end of the partition y. Thence it is pumped through the pipe 23 to a point near the top of the partition g, and as it-issues from said pipe 23 it falls and forms a water seal around the lower part of the partition as. Thence it is pumped through a pipe 24 to a point near the top of the partition f, and it then falls and forms a liquid seal around the lower end of the partition w, finally being discharged through an' opening 25, which leads to a waste-pipe 26. There is a pump connected with each of the pipes 23 and 24:, similar to the pump shown at 20' in Fig. 3; butto avoid complication these pumps have not been shown on Figs. 1 and 2. In practice I prefer to have steam under a pressure of about half an atmosphere in the chamber 1, one atmosphere in the chamber 2, one and one-half atmospheres in the chamber 3, two atmospheres in the chamber 4, one and one-half atmospheres in the chamber 5', one atmosphere in the chamber 6, and a half an atmospere in the chamber 7 In the chamber 1 there is a steam-pressure of half an atmosphere, suflicient to force the liquid up to the overflow-orifice in the small passage through which the fabric is fed in. In the chamber 2 there is a pressure of one atmosphere, which overbalancing the pressure in the chamber 1 by half an'atmosphere would cause the liquid in the seal to rise to the same height; but 'before it gets to that height it runs over into the inclined tube at the top of the liquid seal and is discharged into the lower part of the chamber 1'. A similar action takes place in the chambers 3 and 4, so that there is a steady circulation of the liquid, owing to the steampressure from the chamber 4 into the chamber 3 through the inclined pipe, from the chamber 3 into the chamber 2, and so on until the liquid is discharged. On the other side of the central chamber 4: a circulation toward the opposite end of the apparatus would naturally take place under the influence of the steam-pressure; but this tendency to circulate.

is overcome by the positively-actuated pumps, which pump the liquid from the chamber 7 to the chamber 6, from the chamber 6 to the chamber 5, and from the chamber 5 to the chamber 4. Thus the level of the liquid at the top of the liquid seals and at the bottom of the chambers is substantially the same in each of the chambers, In the present case the greatest internal pressure is supposed to be of two atmospheres corresponding to differential pressures of one-half atmosphere between the chambers, so that the level of the seal columns may be of approximately five meters, This arrangement-may vary at will by increasing either the number of chambers or the pressure therein; but in this case the level ofthe sealsor columns, and consequently the height of the inner walls or partitions, should be increased. This arrangement offers the following advantages: An apparatus can be constructed in which the fabrics or yarns orothermaterials may be steamed at a high pressure without necessitating liquid columns of great height (in the present case twenty meters) for balancing the great interior pressure. On the other hand, if we consider the fabric entering on the left and discharging on the right and the liquid of the columns or seals being not water but lye it will be seen that the fabric entering the apparatus is subjected to the action of the lye of progressively-increasing alkalinity and to the action of steam of increasing temperature. The advantages of my improved arrangement are considerable, viz: 1 v

First. The fabrics do not pass suddenly from the exterior temperature to the high temperature of the central chamber, but the changetakes place gradually;

- Second. Only the dirty and almost completely-exhausted lye is discharged through the overflow of the seal a, and this lye, which should not act at all on the already-lixiviated fabric, does still act on the completely raw fabric and assists the dissolving of the dressing thereof. In known apparatus, on the contrary, the impurities remaining in the lye retard and even prevent the action of said lye. Consequently it is necessary to give the lyes an excess of alkali in order that they will be effective during the latter stages of the operation. Notwithstanding this fact, it is well known that after a certain time the weakening of the lye ceases and that it does not act further inspite of the alkalinity which it still possesses. In all known apparatus-that part of the alkali which remains in the lye can be considered as totally lost; but it is not so in the presentapparatus, in which the lye flows away completely exhausted.

Third. The immersion in the lye and the intermittent steaming gradually opens the;

pores of the fiber, and if previous to the immersion in new lye the' soap formed is removed the new lye will act under the best con-, ditions for finishing the saponification.

Fourth. The intermittent steaming-and lixiviation tends to prevent the production ofv oxycellulose.

Fifth. The great temperature to which this apparatus can be worked makes the action of the lye more energetic than in the known continuous apparatus, as it is a well-known fact that the fiber contains certain impurities which are difficult to saponify under 120 centigrade, but which are easily saponifiable over this temperature.

Sixth. The methodical washing, combined with the intermittent steaming, completely eliminates the products of saponification formed, and the fiber can be immediately chlorinated or dried without further washing.

Seventh. The special arrangement of the steaming-chambers placed in series or parallel permits a light and comparatively weak construction of the apparatus in which the inner pressure is of some atmospheres, as the side walls can be strengthened by stays without any other special arrangement, and, on the other hand, the upper and lower walls can be reinforced by beamsconstructed as asolid body of equal resistance.

My improved apparatus, as compared with the Walter apparatus, presents the following advantages and differences: It may be of much smaller dimensions for an equal production. In said Walter apparatus the fabric is subjected only to one immersion in the lye and to asingle steaming for a long time, while in the present apparatus the immersions are intermittent and always increasing from the former till the central chamber.

Compared with the Rigamonti and Tagliani apparatus the present apparatus presents the following differences and advantages: In the Rigamon'ti and Tagliani apparatus the fabric undergoes only one immersion before the steaming, and during the latter it is sprinkled by the lyeinthe chamber. This lye becomes charged with the impurities of the fabric, and if it is not changed or removed or partially renewed the fabric will be impregnated with the same impurities; but if the lye is often changed a great and still useful part thereof is lost. In my improved apparatus the lixiviation takes place in a perfectly systematic manner and only the completely-exhausted lye is thrown away, while, on the other hand, the final lixiviation is effected with an absolutely pure and caustic lye.

My improved apparatus presents over both examples above described the great advantage of working at a higher pressure and presents also the greater advantage of amethodical lixiviation, which permits of utilizing all the alkali employed. The methodical steaming permits of passing gradually from the exterior temperature to the high temperature of thecentral chamber. The methodical washing permits of passing gradually from the high temperature of the central chamber to the external temperature, and it may be observed that the methodical washing, although already used in some arrangements, has not been used in combination with intermediate steaming in bleaching proceedings or apparatus.

Having thus described my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an apparatus for treating fabrics, the combination of a casing provided with partitions so arranged that said casing is divided into chambers which may be separated from each other by liquid seals, means for introducing steam under pressure intoeach of said chambers, means for introducing a bleaching agent in the chambers on one side of the central chamber, and means for introducing washing agents in the chambers on the other side of the central chamber, the parts being so arranged that the washing and bleaching agents circulate in the reverse direction to that of the fabric under treatment and that the fabric after entering the casing shall be subjected to successively-increasing pressures of steam until a maximum is reached and then to successively-decreasing pressures of steam, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for treating fabrics, the combination of a casing provided with partitions forming chambers adapted to be separated from each other by liquid seals, means for supplying steam under pressure to each of said chambers, means for supplyingaliquid bleaching agent under pressure to the chambers on one side of the central chamber, and means for supplying a washing agent under pressure to the chambers on the other side of the central chamber, the steam-pressure in the central chamber being the highest and the arrangement being such that the internal pressure'is balanced by several liquid columns arranged parallel with each other, the collective height of which columns is equal to the height of a single liquid column that would balance the steam pressure in the central chamber, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus for treating fabrics, the combination of a casing provided with upwardly and downwardly extending partitions which divide said casing into chambers adapted to be closed by liquid seals, means for supplying steam under pressure to each of said chambers, means for supplying a bleaching agent under pressure to the chambers on one side of the central chamber, means for supplying a washing agent under pressure to the chambers on the other side of the central chamber, the steam-pressure being highest in the vversely arranged central chamber and decreasing successively toward either end of the apparatus, and means for causing the fabric under treatment to pass fabric passes out of the bleaching agent into the central chamber in which the pressure of steam is the highest, then passing through the washing agent at the point where it is most impure, then passing through steam under a pressure less'than that of the central chamber and so on, and finally passing out through the purest part of the washing agent and under the least pressure into the atmosphere, substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus for treating fabrics, the combination of a casing provided with upwardly and downwardly projecting partitions which overlap each other forming chambers adapted to be closed by liquid seals, means for introducing steam under pressure to each of said chambers, means for introducing a bleaching agent under pressure to some of said chambers and means for introducing a washing agent under pressure to others of said chambers, substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus for treating fabrics, the combination of a casing provided with reversely arranged overlapping partitions forming chambers adapted to be closed by liquid seals, means for introducing steam under pressureinto each of said chambers, means for causing a washing agent to circulate under pressure through the chambers at one end of said apparatus, means for causing a bleaching agent to circulate under pressure in the chambers at the other end of said apparatus, and means for causing the fabric under treatment to travel through said chambers in a direction opposite to the direction of the circulation of the washing and bleaching agents, substantially as described.

6. In an apparatus for treating fabrics, the combination of a casing provided with reoverlapping partitions forming chambers adapted to be separated from each other by liquid seals, means for supplying steam under a comparatively high pressure to the central one of said chambers, means for supplying steam under successivelydecreasing pressures to each of the chambers arranged on either side of said central chamber, means for supplying a bleaching agent under pressure to form a liquid seal between said central steam-chamber and the chamber next thereto, means for supplying a washing agent under pressure to the outermost one of said chambers arranged on the other side of said central chamber, connections whereby said bleaching and washing, agents are caused IIO for supplying a bleaching agent under pressure to form liquid seals between said chambers and to cause said bleaching agent to circulate under pressure from the chamber subjected to the greatest steam-pressure to chambers subjected to a less steam-pressure successively, and means for causing the fabric to pass through said chambers whereby said fabric is subjected first to the most impure part of the bleachingagent, then to a comparatively low pressure of steam, then to a purer part of the bleaching agent, then to a higher pressure of steam and so on until the fabric passes entirely out of the bleaching agent whereupon it is subjected to the highest pressure of steam, substantially as described.

8. In an apparatus for treating fabrics, the combination of a casing provided with reversely arranged overlapping partitions forming chambers adapted to be separated from each other by liquid seals, means for supplying steam under pressure to some of said chambers, the pressure in-said chambers diminishing successively from one to the other, and means for supplying a washing agent under pressure to all of said chambers except one in which chamber the steam-pressure is the highest, and means for causing the fabric under treatment to travel through said chambers whereby said fabric is subjected first to the highest steam-pressure, then to the action of the most impure part of the Washing agent, then to a less steam-pressure, then to a purer part of the washing agent, and so on until the fabric finally emerges from the casing, substantially as described.

9. In an apparatus for treating fabrics, the combination of a casing provided with reversely arranged overlapping partitions forming chambers adapted to be separated from each other by liquid seals, means for supplying steam under pressure to each of said chambers,the steam-pressure being greatest in the central chamber and diminishing gradually and successively in the chambers on'either side thereof, means for supplying a bleaching agent under pressure to one of the chambers next adjoining the central chamber, pipes communicating with the top of the liquid seal in one chamber with the bottom of the liquid seal in the next succeeding chamber, means for supplying a washing agent under pressure to the outermost of the chambers arranged on the other side of said central chamber, connecting-pipes and pumps connecting said chambers containing the Washing agent, inlet and outlet pipes for supplying the bleaching and washing agents to said casing, rollers arranged near the top and bottom of said casing for guiding said fabric, and loopers located in some of said chambers, sub-. stantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

MANUEL MUNTADAS Y ROVIRA.

Witnesses:

GARCIA CASTER, STANLEY C. HARRIS. 

